15 Clever Ways to Use Up Leftover Chicken Broth (Don’t Pour It Down the Drain!)

Ever stared at that half-used carton of chicken broth in your fridge wondering what the heck to do with it before it goes bad? Been there done that! As someone who hates food waste with a passion, I’ve discovered that chicken broth is basically liquid gold in the kitchen – if you know how to use it.

Ree Drummond from The Pioneer Woman calls chicken broth her “secret ingredient to cure all ailments” – and I couldn’t agree more! It’s the backbone of so many comfort foods beyond just chicken noodle soup.

So before you even think about pouring that precious broth down the drain, check out these 15 delicious ways to put it to good use. Trust me, your taste buds (and wallet) will thank you!

1. Cook Your Grains in Broth Instead of Water

Boring rice? Not anymore! One of my favorite kitchen hacks is using chicken broth instead of plain water when cooking:

• Rice
• Quinoa
• Farro
• Barley
• Couscous

The grains soak up all that savory goodness, giving you an instant flavor boost without any extra effort. I do this ALL the time with my brown rice – toasting the grains with a bit of butter first, then fluffing them up with a slow simmer in flavorful chicken broth, olive oil, and spices. Game changer!

2. Make a Quick Soup (That’s Not Chicken Noodle)

Sure, chicken noodle soup is the obvious choice, but there are tons of other soups you can whip up with broth:

• Taco Soup: Uses a quart of broth plus ground beef, beans, chilies, and corn – ready in 30 minutes!
• Pasta Fagioli: Italian comfort in a bowl
• Tortellini in Broth: Use frozen or shelf-stable tortellini, add some grated cheese, and toss in whatever greens you have
• Quick Chicken Chili: Broth + chunky chicken + cannellini beans + spices = yum!

3. Create Restaurant-Quality Risotto (Easier Than You Think!)

Risotto sounds fancy but it’s actually super simple. The secret? Good chicken broth! As you slowly add the broth to the Arborio rice, it releases its starch creating that creamy texture without tons of cream.

For a fun twist try making arancini balls – fried risotto balls filled with melty cheese. They make impressive appetizers that’ll have your friends thinking you went to culinary school!

If you’re feeling lazy (me, most days), there’s even a microwave risotto method! No laborious stirring needed – just heat your chicken broth in a microwave-safe dish, add arborio rice and a glug of wine, and zap for about 16 minutes total.

4. Braise Meats and Vegetables

Braising is basically magic – it transforms tough cuts of meat into tender deliciousness. And guess what makes the perfect braising liquid? You guessed it!

• Short Rib Curry: The broth helps break down the meat until it’s fall-apart tender
• Slow Cooker Pork Chops: Chicken broth + cream of mushroom soup creates the perfect smothery sauce
• Savory Slow Cooker Green Beans: Give these bacon-studded, broth-based beans 8 hours in the slow cooker and watch a humble veggie become the star of the meal
• Braised Onions with Rosemary: Use these on sandwiches, grain bowls, or as a pasta topping

5. Whip Up a Pan Sauce in Minutes

After cooking chicken, pork, or even fish in a skillet, don’t wash that pan! Those browned bits stuck to the bottom (what fancy chefs call “fond”) are pure flavor. Add a splash of chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scrape up those bits, and let it reduce for a minute or two. Finish with a pat of butter, and boom – instant sauce!

6. Make a Pot Pie (The Ultimate Comfort Food)

Chicken broth is the ingredient that gives classic pot pie its rich, savory flavor. Each scoop has vegetables smothered in gravy with a golden flaky crust on top. It’s comfort by the forkful!

I sometimes make individual pot pies in ramekins when I’m feeling fancy, or a big family-style one when I’m lazy (which, let’s be real, is most of the time).

7. Level Up Your Stuffed Vegetables

Broth adds moisture and flavor to stuffed vegetable fillings:

• Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes: Chicken broth thickens the garlicky, spicy filling
• Stuffed Bell Peppers: Use broth to cook the rice filling and keep everything moist

8. Create Marry Me Chicken (Yes, It’s That Good)

The Pioneer Woman’s “Marry Me Chicken” will win anyone’s heart at the table! Chicken broth is one of the secret ingredients that makes this dish worthy of date night. It’s so good it might just prompt a proposal (hence the name)!

9. Make Homemade Gravy

Never buy jarred gravy again! Making it from scratch is super easy:

1. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a pan
2. Add 2 tablespoons flour and cook for 1 minute
3. Slowly whisk in 1-2 cups chicken broth
4. Simmer until thickened
5. Season with salt, pepper, and herbs

Perfect for pouring over mashed potatoes, biscuits, or roasted meats!

10. Cook Pasta Directly in Broth

Why boil pasta in water when you could use broth instead? The pasta absorbs all that chicken-y goodness as it cooks, and the starch released helps create a light sauce. Add a drizzle of olive oil and some parmesan, and you’ve got a quick, flavorful meal.

11. Boost Your Jambalaya

There’s so much going on in jambalaya—jumbo shrimp, chicken, andouille sausage—that you need a flavorful liquid to bring it all together. Chicken broth is perfect for this! You’ll know it’s done when the broth is absorbed and the rice is tender.

12. Make Heavenly Stuffing (Not Just for Thanksgiving!)

Want to know the secret to moist, fluffy stuffing? It’s chicken broth! Combined with cream of mushroom soup, it gives bread cubes a toasted exterior with creamy layers of texture inside. And don’t just save this for Thanksgiving – it’s delicious anytime!

13. Braise Hearty Greens

Kale, collards, and other hearty greens can be a bit tough and bitter. Simmer them in chicken broth with a bit of garlic and red pepper flakes, and they become tender and flavorful.

14. Create “Melting Potatoes”

Before these potatoes go into the oven, a cup of chicken broth is poured into the pan. This makes them golden brown on the outside and incredibly soft on the inside – hence the name “melting” potatoes!

15. Make a One-Pan Skillet Dinner

For a quick weeknight meal, simply simmer broth with vegetables, cooked meat, and spices in a skillet. Try:

• Chicken and peppers
• Sausage and cabbage
• Shrimp and zucchini

Let everything cook together for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are soft, then serve over rice or pasta.

Storing Your Leftover Broth

If you still have leftover broth after trying these ideas, don’t worry! You can:

• Freeze it in ice cube trays: Perfect for when you just need a splash
• Reduce it: Boil it down until concentrated, then freeze in smaller portions
• Keep it refrigerated: Use within 4-5 days

Final Thoughts

Chicken broth is seriously one of the most versatile ingredients in my kitchen. I always try to keep a few boxes or cans around for quick dinners and flavor boosting. It’s an easy way to add that slow-cooked flavor without simmering bones on the stove for hours.

Whether you’re making comforting soups, tender braised meats, or simply wanting to add more flavor to your basic grains, chicken broth is your secret weapon!

What’s your favorite way to use chicken broth? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear your ideas too!

P.S. Don’t forget to save those chicken bones to make your own homemade broth next time – that’s a whole other blog post coming soon!

Chicken broth is used in cooking to add savory flavor and moisture to dishes, serve as a flavorful base for soups, stews, and sauces, and to cook grains like rice and quinoa. It can also be used for braising meats, poaching proteins like chicken or fish, and steaming vegetables. Additionally, chicken broth can be drunk on its own for a warming and nourishing beverage, especially when recovering from illness.